Weekly Summary: Jan. 7-13

01-07-13
Mon-AM: 18 mi (2:43)
Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (2x)
Greenway to Fort Snelling and back. Splits: 1:20.04 (out), 1:22.56 (back). Perfect winter running weather in the upper 20s with the sun, so decided to take advantage of it with a long run. Used the Visitor Center as a half-way-point-aid-station (1 gel). Happy with the effort, especially with 4 of those miles being on a ski trail. Another bald eagle sighting too!

01-08-13
Tue-AM: 10 mi (1:31)
Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (2x), Sabo (2x), Franklin St. (1x), Lake St. (1x)
Greenway, north riverfront loop. Another unseasonably warm day (+30F). A little sore at the start from yesterday's lengthy adventure, but -- as so often happens -- I warmed up nicely as the miles went by.

01-09-13
Wed-AM: 8 mi (1:12)
Lakes! Loops around Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun, plus a detour or two. This was an early morning sunrise run after dropping Ashley off at work. A bit bitter at the start in the dark, but warmed nicely with the sun's rising. The least crowded I've ever seen the lake paths, though understandable for a Wednesday winter morning. Lakes are definitely frozen solid!

He did it again! 

I would like to thank the frozen ice underneath my feet for making this picture possible.

I've considered snowshoeing as a wintry complement to running, but maybe I should think bigger?
This may be the only winter activity where the wind is your friend.

01-10-13
Thu-AM: 13 mi (1:40)
Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (2x), Sabo (2x), Intercity (1x), Lake St. (1x)
From the house along the Greenway to the south Mississippi loop: 3 mile w/u + 7 mile tempo (6:53 avg; splits: 7:04, 7:06, 6:48, 6:54, 6:52, 6:38, 6:49; 1 gel) + 3 mile c/d. Felt easy and relaxed after getting the heart rate up a little. Trying to figure out a target marathon pace over the next few weeks. Decided to start @sub-7:00s and go from there. Great run on a beautiful day (+39F)!

01-11-13
Fri: 0
Rest.

01-12-13
Sat-AM: 9 mi (1:19)
Intercity (1x), Lake St. (1x)
A modified south Mississippi loop, starting at the Lake Street bridge. Deceptively cold along the riverfront today: +12F with some sun, but sporadically gusty as well. A rookie mistake to leave the wind shell at home today . . . tough miles into the wind. Still believe anything is better than the treadmill though. Would have been a good day for some company.

01-13-13
Sun-PM: 7 mi (1:03)
Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (2x), Sabo (2x)
Out to the Mississippi and back; kinda cold (+8F), kinda cloudy, kinda tough. Seems better not to check the wind chill on days like this. Beautiful sunset, though too cold to bring the camera along. Contemplated doing some 1/4-mi intervals, but decided the footing was too sketchy. Maybe next week . . .

Totals: 65.0 mi (9:27, 20 bridges)